The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (album)

Untitled

The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus is the fifth release of Rolling Stones music by former manager Allen Klein's ABKCO Records (who usurped control of the band's Decca/London material in 1970) after the band's departure from Decca and Klein. Released in 1996, The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus is a live album that captures the taping of their ill-fated 1968 TV special, which was never aired.

Seeking an original way to promote the newly-released Beggars Banquet, The Rolling Stones concocted the idea of recording a live extravaganza of music with a circus theme. They also invited guests to perform, among whom John Lennon (with Yoko Ono), The Who, Eric Clapton (fresh from the break-up of Cream), Taj Mahal, Jethro Tull and Mick Jagger's then current girlfriend, Marianne Faithfull, all took part. Led Zeppelin were initially considered but their spot went to Jethro Tull instead. Specially for the occasion, Lennon, Clapton, Keith Richards and Mitch Mitchell (of The Jimi Hendrix Experience) would form a one-time alliance entitled The Dirty Mac.

Recorded on 11 December into the wee hours of the following day, the final results of most acts was positive, except for The Rolling Stones' performance (including the first ever appearance of "You Can't Always Get What You Want"), which they themselves felt was somewhat flat in places and lacked spark, especially when compared with The Who's standout performance of "A Quick One While He's Away" and The Dirty Mac's rendition of The Beatles' "Yer Blues". Consequently, The Rolling Stones shelved the project for the time being, with the intention of working on it further, but with Brian Jones' imminent death the following July, the moment passed and was left to gather dust.

After years of delays, ABKCO finally issued The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus and a tie-in home video of the event - to warm reviews - in October 1996 and it reached #92 in the US. In 2004 its DVD edition was released.

Track listing

All songs by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and performed by The Rolling Stones, except where noted.

1. "Mick Jagger's Introduction of Rock and Roll Circus" – 0:25
2. "Entry Of The Gladiators" (Julius Fučík) – 0:55
3. "Mick Jagger's Introduction of Jethro Tull" – 0:11
4. "Song For Jeffrey" (Ian Anderson) – 3:26
   • Performed by Jethro Tull
5. "Keith Richard's introduction of The Who" – 0:07
6. "A Quick One While He's Away" (Pete Townshend) – 7:33
   • Performed by The Who
7. "Over The Waves" (Juventino Rosas) – 0:45
8. "Ain't That A Lot Of Love" (Homer Banks/Willia Dean Parker) – 3:48
   • Performed by Taj Mahal
9. "Charlie Watts' Introduction of Marianne Faithfull" – 0:06
10. "Something Better (Gerry Goffin/Barry Mann) – 2:32
    • Performed by Marianne Faithfull
11. "Mick Jagger's and John Lennon's Introduction of The Dirty Mac" – 1:05
12. "Yer Blues (Lennon-McCartney) – 4:27
    • Performed by The Dirty Mac
13. "Whole Lotta Yoko" (Yoko Ono) – 4:49
    • Performed by Yoko Ono and Ivry Gitlis with The Dirty Mac
14. "John Lennon's Introduction of The Rolling Stones"/"Jumpin' Jack Flash" – 3:35
15. "Parachute Woman" – 2:59
16. "No Expectations" – 4:13
17. "You Can't Always Get What You Want" – 4:24
18. "Sympathy For The Devil" – 8:49
19. "Salt Of The Earth" – 4:57
    • Features the original Beggars Banquet music track with new live vocals

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1996	The Billboard 200	92

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